TOBi Hasn't Forgotten To Live
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Positive letters, encouraging words, and random notes filled a pocket-sized notebook that Canadian rapper and singer Oluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade, known professionally as Tobi (stylized as TOBi). The musician titled the book "Don't Forget to Live" and explained that everywhere he goes, he has people he meets write a little message inside that he can reflect on in the future. I found such the small gesture an intentional way to build memories, reminise on the past, and document this journey we're all on called life. Leading up to his sophmore album release, we sat down with TOBi to talk his new project PANIC, how therapy has impacted his life and his homeland, Lagos, Nigeria.
You live in LA.
Futuristic
You were born and raised in Nigeria
Lagos.
And I know you've spent some time in Canada.
Yeah, I moved to Canada when I was like nine years old.
Where feels most like home to you?
Right now, I'll say Toronto, GTA Greater Toronto Area.
.
Why Toronto?
That's where I learned how to be an artist; It's where I learned how to rap and sing. That's where I learned how to be a person in my formative years. Also, Toronto is my favorite place to be.
Have you ever been to Buffalo, New York or no?
Buffalo. Yeah, we used to go as kids. We would go shopping.
Good! Right over the border. It's like an hour and a half. It's not too far.
Easy.
So your new album is titled PANIC. When is the last time you've panicked about something?
Probably two weeks ago.
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What inspired the album title?
A couple of things. One, when I was in school, we used to pull all-nighters. When I pulled all-nighters, the lack of sleep made me feel more creative. But I wasn't focusing on anything else. I wasn't focusing on school, I wasn't focusing on my life, it was just music. I was making music the whole time, creating in a state of panic. How do you remedy that? How do you solve that [panic] when you're in a state of fear? I think it's about tapping back into being a human.
Do you mind sharing what you were panicking about?
What was it? I think it was something on the news, and I was like, oh, man, this is some heavy shit. I think it has something to do with the weather. You know what I'm saying? I think about that stuff a lot. Okay, yeah. This summer has been the hottest summer that I've ever experienced, so things like that, you know, I try not to let it fester on my mind all day, but I do pay attention to climate.
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Which was the most difficult song to write and record for this album?
The most difficult song was the intro. The intro was the most difficult song because it's the most personal. My delivery on it was so emotional. I did so many takes before I got the right one that felt the best. It was an emotionally overwhelming experience. I think it's the most difficult, but it's also probably my favorite song.
Okay. And this is your third album?
I'm calling it my second album. It's my third project full-length project, but my second album.
Does it get easier or harder to create these bodies of work?
At this point, I say it's getting easy.
“I call my sound
unapologetic soul music because I feel like it's a raw, honest expression of myself.”
Nice. You posted on Instagram that you spent four years putting this album together. What challenges did you overcome as you were creating this album?
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I think the hardest part of the process was probably the paperwork, to be honest. The creative part wasn't that difficult, but we have a lot of samples on there. We dug into the vault on some of these songs. That was the toughest part because some of these people hadn't released music in 30 years, so tracking them down was a challenge.
Your music inspirations are all over the place in a good way. Do you find challenges in trying to create a cohesive sound for yourself as you draw from your many inspirations?
That's a good question. I call my sound unapologetic soul music because I feel like it's a raw, honest expression of myself. The artists that I listened to, even though they're different genres, I would call them unapologetic soul music, too. Kendrick, Nina Simone, and Fela Kuti are three different genres: Hip-Hop, Soul, and Afrobeat, but the common thread is the raw expression. I'd even call visual artists like John Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. If they were musicians, they'd be soul artists.
I like that. Also on IG, you shared a slideshow of albums, What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, Lord Willin' by The Clipse, To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill, and Voodoo by D'Angelo. If you had to pick one of those albums as a starting point for your fans, which album would you suggest they listen to first?
I would say What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.
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And why is that?
Because when you listen to that album, you see how influential he is. When you listen to a song in 2023, You can hear the DNA of where different things come from. Like the breakbeat, you know that's coming from old-school hip hop. When you listen to different vocal tones and inflections, like stuff that Kendrick [Lamar], Anderson .Paak and Buddy [from De La Soul], you can find elements of their sound by listening to Marvin Gaye songs. I think What's Going On is the first one to tap into.
You've donated free therapy before for people who feel they need it. How has therapy played a role in your life?
Therapy transformed my life. I wouldn't have the amount of clarity and a lust for life If I hadn't gone through it. I had a tough time in school when I told you I was pulling all those all-nighters, questioning whether I wanted to be an artist. Well, I never questioned whether I wanted to be an artist, but I've whether I wanted it to be my job. I've always wanted to be an artist, and going to therapy helped me sort through all my thoughts and negative thought patterns and transform them into something more realistic.
You're from Lagos. For your fans and for our readers who have never been before, what is so special about your homeland?
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It's always a lot of sounds, whether it's music, people playing on the street, people just yelling on the street, prayer, praise and worship, and gospel because it's a very spiritual place. It's filled with ambiance. I also like Lagos because there's a lot of entrepreneurship. Women run a lot of businesses there and put matters into their own hands, which is inspiring. For the average, everyday, working man and woman to have enterprise, that's special. I think Lagos is good for that. And then the food there is out of this world. I even went to a restaurant called Lagos out here in New York.
Okay, how was it?
It held this weight.
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On one of your previous project covers, you were playing chess.
Yeah.
Do you play chess in real life?
I do play chess.
Who taught me how to play?
A friend of mine when I was in college. His name was Bo, and he was one of the best I've ever played. He always used to play it in his dorm, and he called me over one time, and we just started playing. He put me on.
What do you enjoy most about the game?
I mean, strategy. You have to think steps ahead. You can never believe that you have your opponent beaten. That's the first thing I learned, and I like a challenge.
Okay. I got a little speed round for you. You have both of your ears pierced. I see tattoos, so tattoos or piercings?
Tattoos
New York or LA.
Oh my god! For transportation and food, New York. For Pace, LA.
Okay, dress shoes or sneakers.
I'm going to go sneakers.
Art Director & Photographer: Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director & Interview: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Production Assistant: Whitley Isa @whitleyisa | Location: The 9 Studios | Special Thanks: RCA Records @rcarecords
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